Making Strides

Two days ago (Friday):
Indy, Charlie and I were on a walk. I really thought I could handle the two of them at once. The goal is to have both dogs behind me, walking at whatever pace I walk at. If I'm running, they run. If I stop suddenly, they should stop as well. They should always be paying attention to me and following my every step. Well, this particular walk on Friday was a struggle. Though Indy did fairly well, Charlie was focused on everything around him EXCEPT me. He lunged at squirrels, other dogs, and even falling leaves! I couldn't get him under my control, not even for a second.


We were nearing home when I stopped to adjust Charlies collar. At that second, he must've saw something and he took off and I couldn't react fast enough to grab the leash... he was headed toward another dog sitting out front of a house.... Charlie ran to the dog and sniffed him, then past the dog and past the bushes, up onto the porch and alas! INTO THE HOUSE!!!!!! Yes, folks... these people had left their front door WIDE OPEN and my dog was IN THEIR HOUSE!! Okay, so Cesar says to stay calm... seriously. So, I was calling Charlie, and I'm thinking to myself, "he barely even payed attention to me on the walk"??! So now I'm YELLING for Charlie to COME, which is a command he knows very well and I'm heading up towards the house and then I'm on the porch with Indy at my side and I'm YELLING into this house for my dog. And my dog is RACING around inside their house sniffing around and I see they have TWO dogs... and still I see NO HUMANS! So it is me and three dogs, two of which are mine and only one of which I have control. My instincts kicked in and I decided to hurry away from the house and call to Charlie kind of excitedly, like, "let's go charlie! come on buddy!"... and he came bolting out of the house and I grabbed him just in time!!! So we kept on walking and we were about two houses away when I looked back and saw a man on that porch looking down the street at us waving and apologizing. It was apparent to me that he'd been in the shower cause he wasn't wearing a shirt and his hair appeared wet. I mean, come on people! Could you please not leave your front door agape when you shower... especially if you have dogs???!!!

This morning (Sunday):
I walked the dogs separately this morning while BTK made pancakes with apple cinnamon topping for breakfast. I walked Indy first. He did alright. He likes to push it a little and seemed to only be half paying attention to me and the pace I was going. It was okay, but he needs work. Then I took Chuck and he was near perfect this morning!! When I ran, he ran and when I stopped, he stopped! He was watching my every move and staying behind me the entire way... it was great! And no tension on the leash... I only had to correct him once when he saw squirrels, but the correction was quick and he was back on track=)

So, they are doing better. I have high hopes for these dogs. I just want them to get along. Their is still growling from Indy toward Chuck from time to time. Not sure where it is coming from, but we are working on correcting it.

We are making small strides. Things will get better.